Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/07

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Focal Length and Fetish
From: "Wilber Jeffcoat" <wilber@jeffcoatphotography.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 12:42:19 -0500
References: <5.0.0.25.0.20001107113348.009e1ab0@metaversalstudios.com>

Working mostly with the R8 I find the 35-70 f4           to be the ticket.
If I go to a prime lens then I will opt for the 24 or the 21. If I want some
length then the 90 f2
Cheers Wilber
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas Cooper" <douglas@metaversalstudios.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Focal Length and Fetish


> At 12:01 AM 11/7/00 -0800, you wrote:
> >May I ask those luggers who use the 35mm (or shorter) lens MORE than
> >any other, if they can explain why they do so.  For instance, is it
> >ease of use or do you actually like the results.
> >
> >For me, I find that anything less than 50mm is an "in your face "
> >style.
>
>
> Strange how every eye seems to have its own perspectival preferences.  I
> shot for years with a Hexar, but I never really liked the 35mm focal
> length.  I intend to get either a Summicron or a Canon 35/2 sooner or
> later, if only to find out whether 35 feels somehow better on a Leica.
But
> I've always preferred the 28mm, and the 50.  And, recently, the
> Cosina/Voigtlander 75.  I like the perspectival distortions of a 28,
> perhaps because they're obvious -- you can't pretend that you're not using
> a wide angle.  The 15mm Heliar was just too peculiar for me; the shots I
> liked best had the subject bullseyed in the center, so as to draw the eye
> away from the radical bending.  For a time I enjoyed a 24mm -- a N*k*n
> autofocus -- but even that's beginning to feel too wide.  In large format,
> it's a different story, as you can iron out the perspective.  I'm
beginning
> to like wide lenses on my 4x5's:  the 100mm Wide Field Ektar is a
> particular favorite.  I think it really does reflect a personal aesthetic,
> even a style; most of my favorite photographers seem to have restricted
> themselves to one or two focal lengths.
>
> cheers,
>
> DC
>

In reply to: Message from Douglas Cooper <douglas@metaversalstudios.com> (Re: [Leica] Focal Length and Fetish)